MOBILE, Alabama -- A crew with T.H. Davis Construction is removing the cobblestone pathways in the interior of Fort Conde in downtown Mobile and preparing them to be replaced with smoother bricks or pavers.

The rough nature of the cobblestones presented a tripping hazard to visitors, according to Bobby Bostwick, executive director of Cultural & Civic Development for the city of Mobile. Other recent renovations to the fort by city crews include revamping the bathrooms, repairing a leaking roof and replacing rotten wood decking, Bostwick said.

In 1723, construction of a new brick fort with a stone foundation began, replacing the former temporary wooden stockade named Fort Louis, which was built in 1711. The new fort was renamed Fort Conde in honor of King Louis XIV’s brother.

Congress authorized the sale and demolition of the fort in the early 1820s.

The current Fort Conde, about 1/3 of the original fort recreated in 4/5-scale, opened on July 4, 1976 as part of Mobile’s United States bicentennial celebration.